In keeping with Texas’ expansion and redevelopment of convention centers (see our Dallas CC Spotlight) Austin is revamping the Austin Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez Street), but in a typically Texas big way: the old Austin Convention Center was demolished to make way for an entirely new venue due to open in September of 2029 (just in time for South By Southwest). The project’s named Unconventional ATX and plans to create a bigger, newer convention center with the latest in tech, amenities, and more.
The 1.6 billion dollar investment will be funded through the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), convention center revenue, and Texas’ Project Financing Zone. Established in 2013, these zones allow municipalities to designate a three mile radius around eligible convention centers or arenas to receive a 30 year rebate of state hotel occupancy taxes, supporting venue improvements. 17.7 million dollars will be dedicated to public art, involving 10 local artists.
For the center itself, the square footage will nearly double to over one million square feet with rentable space growing from 365,000 to 620,000 square feet. It’s planned to be the world’s first zero carbon certified center, running on 100 percent renewable energy. Even the old center will contribute to sustainability: some 75 percent of the demolition materials will be recycled or reused. This even includes salvaged structural steel trusses that will be used in the new building.
Estimated to boost the annual economy by 285 million dollars, Unconventional ATX will lead to more than 1,600 new jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and 13 million dollars in additional tax revenue annually.
With three years to go before opening, it would be hard to accurately cite what Eat, Sleep, Play there will be around the new Austin Convention Center, but ECN can offer some general ideas.
EAT
New dining and retail options are in the works for the new convention center, but nothing specific has been announced. But that doesn’t change Auston’s surrounding food scene, with street-style tacos, smoked meats, and Tex-Mex dishes. Thousands of restaurants exist in downtown Austin, so there will be plenty of eating during your visit.
SLEEP
While the old convention center had a hotel directly connected to it, due to costs the new center will not. But the Hilton Austin, which was connected to the old center, will still be nearby. Just like the old venue, the new convention center will have some 14,000 hotel rooms within a one mile radius.
PLAY
Here we can be a little more certain. Home of the PBS television series Austin City Limits, ACL Live at the Moody Theater is a major live music venue and will be just over a 15 minute walk to the new center. If you stay at the W Hotel, you’ll find it is connected to the theater.
With over 30 clubs and a pedestrian only weekend access between I-35 and Brazos St, Austin’s Sixth Street District has restaurants and bars galore. Just minutes away from the old convention center site, the “Dirty 6th” is a center of college nightlife with pubs, dive bars, food trucks, and, of course, live music. For a more upscale scene with dinner, craft beers, shopping, sport events, and dance clubs, West 6th Street is the place to be. And East 6th Street provides a more hipster scene, with a variety of nightlife in the gentrified East Austin area. Over 250 venues host live music nightly. If live music is your jam, any convention at the new Austin Convention Center will be your dream.
